About 2 weeks ago I hurt my right ankle pretty badly. We just had a new addition put onto the house and they just finished the hardwood floors but had not covered the floor vents (I think they're called register covers?). I was walking around in the dark (smart I know ) and went to grab something that was on the other side of one of the uncovered vents and sure enough, my foot went right down into the vent and I fell with it!

When I got up after my fall I noticed immediate swelling right by the Distal Tibia by the Medial Malleoulus. At that point, I knew that I had either fractured my Tibia or tore a ligament (or two). The bruising developed immediately and the next day I couldn't walk on it (it had swelled up significantly overnight). I went to the doctors office the next day and the X-Ray came back negative for a broken Tibia. So I asked my doctor if it was a sprain and he replied with "A very very bad sprain." I know by now after spraining my left ankle enough times that means that a ligament was torn (he confirmed it later).

I know that I tore at least 1 ligament, my guess is the Anterior Tibiotalar Ligament (judging from where the bruising and swelling is the worst) which is one of the Deltoid Ligaments, and I know that the Deltoid Ligaments are the stronger of the group in the ankle, so when they tear, a piece of bone is usually going to be taken with it.

My question is: should I have surgery to fix this/do you think I'll need surgery to fix it? I realize that it sounds silly for just one or two ligaments but I know that the lateral ligaments in my right foot are weak as well and that I'll need surgery eventually to repair them because they're only going to get weaker.

Well, it's probably worth at least talking to a surgeon. Are you currently on crutches? Or in a boot or something?

If the damaged ligaments are well-protected, and you get good rehab afterward, even a near-total tear can heal on its own. And if it does, then your foot is better off in the long run. Of course, if the ligament doesn't heal, then you might need it repaired eventually anyway.

I'm on crutches (on and off) and in a walking cast, mostly because of the swelling and the throbbing.

I just saw the doctor (he's also an orthopedic surgeon) today and he agreed that I should get an MRI. He wants to wait until 6 weeks post "accident" to determine then. My guess is because of the swelling.

I'm just worried because of how things went with my left ankle 2 years ago. I sprained it numerous amount of times before it dislocated and I ended up needing surgery to repair 2 torn ligaments and several over-stretched ligaments. The problem was that I didn't find out that I needed the surgery until after being in physical therapy for 3 months.

Sorry for my babbling. I just want to get things "fixed" (if they need it) early so that I don't have to go through what I went through with my left ankle.

Hi Nikkiisshort,
I'm just curious to know how you are doing now?!? Also, What was your expierence having surgery for your first sessions of ankle sprains? I meet with my ankle specialist today. My injury doesn't sound as bad as yours...but MRI shows that I have partial tearing and avulsion of the deep deltoid fibers and the tibial spring ligament...along with bone bruising. I've been in a big air-cast for 4-weeks and now using crutches as much as possible as the pain has gotten worse over the past week and a half.

ANYWAY...I really hope that you are doing alright. I'd like to know how you are healing now. It helps to stay sane connecting with others who are dealing with similiar stuff!!

I had the MRI done and the results didn't seem to show much. From what he could see (my surgeon), he didn't see a whole lot of damage but he could tell that there was some damage. For now, I wait until January to find out what happens next.

Surgery in general isn't always a pleasant experience, but if you stay. My surgery was to repair damaged lateral (outer) ligaments (they were the most damaged), so it might be slightly different than how yours might be (if you need surgery).

Depending on which procedure your surgeon/specialist uses, a good rule of thumb will be that you'll be non-weight bearing for about 2 weeks and you'll be in a fiberglass cast for about 6 weeks. You'll probably be in some pretty intense physical therapy for a few months. I was able to "bounce back" 6 months post op (the usual time for complete healing is 18 months). Unfortunately (?), because I healed so quickly, I developed a lot of scar tissue in my ankle joint and needed surgery to remove it.

It will be a long recovery, but it's completely worth it to have it done. Either way, I hope that everything goes well. Let us know what happens! :-)

The thing about feet is, they have so many danged tiny little parts, all overlapping each other, all vitally important. False negatives on x-rays and even MRI and CAT scans are unfortunately common. The first reading of my MRI was normal and that probably delayed my treatment 2-3 months, until I just got so desperate I started seeking out specialists even though I "knew" there was nothing they could do.

Lucky for me, I was wrong about that.

So I am glad you are seeing a surgeon who is relying on the MRI as one source of information among many, because they are not infallible.

The thing about feet is, they have so many danged tiny little parts, all overlapping each other, all vitally important. False negatives on x-rays and even MRI and CAT scans are unfortunately common. The first reading of my MRI was normal and that probably delayed my treatment 2-3 months, until I just got so desperate I started seeking out specialists even though I "knew" there was nothing they could do.

Lucky for me, I was wrong about that.

So I am glad you are seeing a surgeon who is relying on the MRI as one source of information among many, because they are not infallible.

Exactly! It's so easy for things to be overlooked. That's why my surgeon wants to wait for another test/diagnostic image before he schedules for me to be cut open (I realize that was rather vulgar, but I have to have some sense of humor).

About 2 weeks ago I hurt my right ankle pretty badly. We just had a new addition put onto the house and they just finished the hardwood floors but had not covered the floor vents (I think they're called register covers?). I was walking around in the dark (smart I know ) and went to grab something that was on the other side of one of the uncovered vents and sure enough, my foot went right down into the vent and I fell with it!

When I got up after my fall I noticed immediate swelling right by the Distal Tibia by the Medial Malleoulus. At that point, I knew that I had either fractured my Tibia or tore a ligament (or two). The bruising developed immediately and the next day I couldn't walk on it (it had swelled up significantly overnight). I went to the doctors office the next day and the X-Ray came back negative for a broken Tibia. So I asked my doctor if it was a sprain and he replied with "A very very bad sprain." I know by now after spraining my left ankle enough times that means that a ligament was torn (he confirmed it later).

I know that I tore at least 1 ligament, my guess is the Anterior Tibiotalar Ligament (judging from where the bruising and swelling is the worst) which is one of the Deltoid Ligaments, and I know that the Deltoid Ligaments are the stronger of the group in the ankle, so when they tear, a piece of bone is usually going to be taken with it.

My question is: should I have surgery to fix this/do you think I'll need surgery to fix it? I realize that it sounds silly for just one or two ligaments but I know that the lateral ligaments in my right foot are weak as well and that I'll need surgery eventually to repair them because they're only going to get weaker.

Please let me know what you guys think. Thank you!

First of all I think you need to go see a doctor but I would be hesistant to rush to surgery. Some doctors are quick to either cut into you or prescribe addictive pain killers.
I know how you feel. I have had a similar expereince but it was due to years of physical abuse to my body through sports. i developed arthritis and painful joints and muscles. I have used many things and the one that helped me was a product called Asteeza. its all natural made from herbal ingredients. I swear I live by it. You can google it. I use it twice a day and use ibuprofen as needed. I feel better now and dont have to ingest addictive pain killers. Hope it works for you ! Good luck ! Ron

i also had an ankle sprain(away from centre of body).doctor looked at a stress view xray of my foot and said that i had broken some ligament and needed to be repaired through surgery.
i dont have such much pain neither swelling
but my bone has come out a little(medial bone).its easily identifiable

I have a similar injury. It's been 6 months for me and no real improvement. An ultrasound showed minor tears in my deltoid ligaments. A couple months ago an MRI showed microtrabecular fracture of navicular bone with bone marrow edeme (i.e., bone bruise of the navicular). I have pain when I walk normally, such that my foot pronates in. I have amplified pain when I place pressure on my left foot and this pain in localized over the medial ankle, in the gap between the ankle bone and navicular accessory, and at my navicular bone. I've tried all types of conservative treatment, including a aircast boot. Nothing has helped and the boot made it worse, likely by placing pressure on the bone bruise. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Quote:

Originally Posted by let me walk

Hi Nikkiisshort,
I'm just curious to know how you are doing now?!? Also, What was your expierence having surgery for your first sessions of ankle sprains? I meet with my ankle specialist today. My injury doesn't sound as bad as yours...but MRI shows that I have partial tearing and avulsion of the deep deltoid fibers and the tibial spring ligament...along with bone bruising. I've been in a big air-cast for 4-weeks and now using crutches as much as possible as the pain has gotten worse over the past week and a half.

ANYWAY...I really hope that you are doing alright. I'd like to know how you are healing now. It helps to stay sane connecting with others who are dealing with similiar stuff!!